Overview:Students explore molecular data from Homo sapiens and four related primates and develop multiple hypotheses regarding the ancestry of these five species by analyzing DNA sequences, protein sequences, and chromosomal maps.

Author/Source:Nathan Lents

Grade:College

Discipline:Life Science

Time:1 to 4 class periods or one 3 hour lab session

Teaching tips:This lesson illustrates many aspects of the process of science; however, in order to make these points apparent to students, they will need to be explicitly discussed during the class discussion periods.